Chicago is one of the great cultural centers in the United States and one of the world’s economic hotspots.
The business scene is particularly strong, and in 2021 Chicago launched an initiative to attract tech businesses. In 2023, it was reported that Chicago experienced an 800% increase in logistics technology industry growth capital.
Chicago’s scene has been also typified as a “slow grind,” but the area is home to thousands of fast-growing companies and the startup scene is strong.
But either way, for businesses that serve the local area or businesses that are simply located in Chicago, digital marketing channels are the clear path to future growth.
Before you start looking for SEO services in Chicago, here are a few things you need to know.
Local Services Matter
For any business that only serves a specific geographical area, local SEO services are key.
For businesses located in Cook County, Illinois, this makes SEO services in Chicago a prime channel for growth. You simply need to show up in the relevant local search results.
Even businesses that don’t technically sell online can benefit from the increased visibility that SEO services offer.
Optimizing a Google My Business listing is akin to “optimizing” a listing in the Yellow Pages if such a concept could ever have been called a thing.
An optimized GMB listing will help push more eyes and foot traffic toward your local business, resulting in greater conversions and sales.
Local websites, even if there are technically no operations tied to them, can be excellent lead generators.
Moreover, providers of SEO services in Chicago can optimize these websites for specific keywords and search terms that are location-bound, helping more leads in your area to find the business.
…But the Geographical Location of the Provider Shouldn’t Necessarily
While it should be apparent that local SEO services are one of the keys to success for any business that is location bound, it should also be noted that the physical location of the services provider is hardly relevant.
The skill, accreditations, customer reviews, and experience of the provider should be prioritized over their location within the country or the world.
That is to say, a provider of SEO services for Chicago might well be located in Philadelphia, New York, Florida, or even Canada for that matter.
This is not to suggest that some wherewithal and know-how can certainly be distilled by being an actual, physical part of a local market, but experience with SEO best practices is not something bound to one city or other.
So, when you type in “SEO services in Chicago,” keep that in mind.
With one caveat.
Good SEO Practices Are Good SEO Practices, Period
When you do perform a search for SEO services in Chicago (which is one of the best tests for finding a provider of SEO services, by the way) keep in mind that the entries at the tops of the search results might not even be in Chicago.
And that’s quite alright.
You’re performing a search for SEO services, right? So the ones that come up at the top of the search results are the most qualified based on their merits, right?
Correct on both counts. So who cares where they are in the country? If they showed up for the search term you searched, they’re doing something right.
Let their merits speak for themselves. If they know how SEO services work, that should be enough for you. As it turns out, Chicago SEO experts might not even be in Chicago.
Because that’s what you’re buying when you partner with an SEO agency for digital marketing services.
Now go out and start a search for SEO services in Chicago and sign up with the provider that offers the best tentative results and fields all your concerns and objections in a professional and well-informed manner.
